"Pardon?""Pronounce that she fell into another critical heart attack, and this time, she didn’t survive," Nathan clarified, and the man's eyes widened even more.Wasn’t this man upset because the hospital almost caused his wife's death? And now, he was asking them to announce her dead.Could it be... he was the one behind the strange incident?"That’s unprofessional...""Then I should take down this...""No!" The man quickly cut Nathan off. "I’ll do as you say, but... may I ask why?""Just do as I say," Nathan responded coldly.__In a few hours, the news circulated like wildfire. Paisley’s death shocked everyone to the core. It was unexpected...However, while everyone else fell for the trick, Tatiana didn’t. When she decided to look into the matter, she found a nurse working at the hospital.When Tatiana asked about Paisley’s condition, the nurse refused to give her details until she received a bribe."Well, don’t tell anyone I told you this. I overheard Mr. Nathan Redmond visited
Shoot his leg?Nathan's brow creased as the guard delivered Cassius's message."This is Dylan's father doing, isn't it?" Nathan asked Tatiana."You should stay. I'd love to see you lose your leg. That would be a lovely scene," Tatiana responded calmly. She was glad Cassius had taken this action; she was about to throw up because of Nathan's presence.This man irritated her to the core. She wondered how stupid she had been years ago."Well, sadly I came unprepared. If I had known you were coming, I would have come better equipped," Nathan said gently. His mind drifted to the stranger at the school—the man who took down the whole school just because Nathan approached Dylan.He was definitely someone dangerous, but Nathan still wouldn’t back down."Mister," the guard called out and reached for the gun in his pocket."Alright, alright, I’m leaving. Tell your boss to chill the fuck out," Nathan stood with a dirty smirk. He looked back at Tatiana. "I'll see you around, darling."Tatiana cle
[NEXT MORNING]Tatiana woke up to the orange hues of the sun slipping through the slightly parted curtains. She frowned when her eyes met a firm chest, her nose tingling at his familiar scent.She slowly looked up at his face. Gosh, why must he be this handsome even in his sleep?His face was calm, peaceful, and serene. Tatiana's gaze lingered on his lips, her heart skipping a beat as she recalled how they felt on hers. She blushed as her heart fluttered."You know deep down he likes you, Tatiana," she recalled Indigo's words.Could it be true? This man is way out of her league. Considering the way he protects her, it slightly proves Indigo's words to be true.She can't deny the fact that she feels something for him too.Is it worth it? What if she gets hurt again? She won't be able to handle it.She gently removed her hand from around his torso and lifted it to touch his face. Just as it was about to reach his skin, he opened his eyes.Tatiana froze, her face reddening in her awkward
The next day, Tatiana's mood was bright and charming as she worked on the set. The aura around her radiated happiness."How's the big boss doing, huh?" Jolene teased as she handed a bottle of water to Tatiana during her break."What do you mean?" Tatiana asked, removing the cap of the bottle and taking a sip."Nothing," Jolene shook her head, and Tatiana raised an eyebrow. "I've got some research on Diana Rock.""Tell me about it," Tatiana demanded, and Jolene sat beside her, pulling out her tablet."She has a lot of scandals, and that's what gave her most of her fame," Jolene said, and Tatiana listened intently.The scandals mostly involve her with famous male artists or female international artists. Ninety percent of her fans hate her, but she doesn’t care. Instead, she keeps stirring up more scandals.Whether she’s found in compromising situations with men or provoking rich female artists, she always manages to cause a stir in the industry. She admits her mistakes and gains more ha
Nathan couldn't contain his anger as he smashed the tablet against the wall."Damn you!" he roared, kicking his chair. He grabbed his glass and hurled it at the wall, too. The files on his desk weren't spared either.By the time he was done scattering things around his office, his breath was heavy."Clean this mess," he ordered Finn before storming out.Diana, who had been waiting for him, rushed to his side."Mr. President, I need to talk to you," she said, but Nathan didn't respond."Mr. President!" Diana called again.Nathan suddenly halted and grabbed her hand harshly, dragging her into the empty office beside them and locking the door.Diana, shocked by his actions, frowned. "Mr. President?" she stuttered, meeting Nathan's cold and deadly gaze.As he stepped forward, Diana instinctively stepped back."What is it?" Nathan asked."Um... I made a scandal with Tatiana Wallington...""So?""Tatiana isn't responding, and I think it's not really necessary to continue these scandalous me
Tatiana's eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed. She swallowed at his words, staring at the man in disbelief."Is he being serious right now?"Tatiana's heart fluttered, a sense of tranquility coursing through her."Better t-than cookies," her voice croaked as she blinked several times.The man didn't reply. He drew her fragile body to himself and crashed his soft, inviting lips onto hers. Like a volcano, her heart exploded with desire, and she didn't hesitate to kiss him back.He trailed his firm hand from her neck to her collarbone, leading her beneath him. His tall and broad frame hovered over hers as their lips moved in sync.A soft moan escaped her throat when he cupped one of her breasts. His calloused hand massaged, squeezed, and teased her erect nipple, intensifying her desire.Her hand reached for his hair, tangling her fingers in it and pulling his head closer. His tongue struck deep into her mouth, moving in perfect harmony with hers.Finally, the kiss broke, but his mouth d
Nathan shot a deadly glare at her. He threw her harshly onto the floor and kicked her stomach. Not satisfied, he repeated the action until she bled more from her mouth and lay unmoving.Diana's vision blurred, her head spinning with pain as she forced herself to breathe."I don't fucking hit women. Because all the women I’ve met submit themselves to me. They respect and do what I fucking say, but you?--" He let out a mocking laugh. "But you and that bitch Tatiana won't stop getting on my nerves. Or would you like me to go the hard way? Oh, that would be priceless—to watch you suffer and be dragged by the media until you wish for death. I'll start with your brother."Diana's breath hitched at his last sentence. Not her brother!"Don't," she wanted to say, but her voice betrayed her. Before she knew it, Nathan Redmond had left the room.__Just as he promised, Cassius behaved like a good boy the entire time. She watched as the doctor gave him treatment and stated he needed rest."I'll m
Tatiana dashed out of the place and into the car that had brought her here. The driver assigned to accompany her ran after her."Ma'am," his voice trailed off.Tatiana hit the accelerator, heading to the place she hadn't visited in years: the Wallington mansion. Why? Why? Why? That question kept ringing over and over in her head.It would take an hour to reach her destination.However, Cassius received a call, and when he heard what the person said on the other end, he immediately tracked Tatiana.He swiftly grabbed his jacket and left for his car. He put it in high gear and chased after her."Hudson," Cassius called his assistant."Boss?""Delay her," he ordered.In two minutes, Tatiana was stuck in traffic. The traffic light was unusually glowing red for a long time.Groaning, Tatiana hit her hand on the steering wheel. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she began to sob.*Tatie, why is your phone dead? I'm scared. I'm so fucking scared. People are everywhere. I'm dressed in black l
“Rosa,” Zade approached her quietly. She sat alone on the hotel rooftop, gazing up at the night sky.“How did you find me?” Rosa asked, her expression blank.“I figured you'd be somewhere quiet, probably with a nice view and fresh air. The rooftop seemed like the best bet,” Zade explained. “Care if I join you?”“As long as you don’t become a burden, help yourself.”Rosa had always been the one who smiled the most in the clan. She was cheerful, helpful, talkative—everyone loved her. Talented. Beauty with brains.But after Viktor’s death...Zade hadn’t seen even a glimpse of a smile on her face.It had been over a week since the war ended. Leonard was now being held in a psychiatric facility known as the Phantom Cell, secured with high-tech restraints. That guy would be tortured until his last breath.Not the violent kind of torture, but the kind that would haunt him. Trapped between walls, injected with things that would slowly drive him insane.Rafeal had said Leonard was saved agains
Angie Hales. That name was carved into the gravestone. The yard was the place where all the dead mobsters were buried. Rafeal approached, placing a bunch of flowers on the stone, his expression blank, but inside he was breaking. He hadn't seen her death coming. Even though she had made a grave mistake that caused the clan to suffer, Angie had been his friend ever since he joined the clan. She was brave, smart, and always there to calm him with her words. Even now, he still found it hard to believe Angie was truly behind it… Rosa walked to stand beside Rafeal, her face unreadable, but she was breaking inside too. “I shouldn’t have told her to die after the mission,” Rosa said, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. “I regret my words that day.” “It’s not your fault,” Rafeal said. Rosa nodded, understanding what Rafeal meant. “She was my best friend.” “She paid her debt,” Rafeal mumbled. Memories of Angie surfaced, striking Rosa’s heart. “Still… I hope she fin
Several days passed, and Milena didn't leave Rafeal’s side for a second. She watch the doctor feed and treat him occasionally, read him stories and watched him sleep until her own eyes shut.Three days had passed, and Milena grew worried, missing him so badly. She missed his voice, his smile, his touch, and the way he made her feel.Wake up soon, Rafeal.The doctor mentioned his body was still healing and that it would take time before he regains consciousness.Milena rested her head beside him, taking his hand into hers and falling asleep like that. She loved doing so—she could sense even the slightest movement from him.The sun rose from its horizon, casting a warm glow over the city.Milena stirred in her sleep, releasing a light moan. She looked up, and shock rippled through her.She was lying on the couch, and the bed was empty."Rafeal!" she gasped, shoving off the sheet that covered her one side of her and bolting to the bed. "Where did he go? He can't be up! Did the doctor tra
Milena blinked in shock, still frozen in place as her limbs refused to listen to her.Finally met her? Why would the great Tatiana Wallington be anticipating meeting her?As if reading her thoughts, Tatiana spoke again in that smooth voice.“We've heard about you, dear.”Milena’s legs wobbled. “Good things, I hope,” she muttered under her breath. She glanced at Cassius, who still had his sharp gaze fixed on her.Then she bowed deeply, her head almost touching her knees.“Nice to really meet you too, Mr. and Mrs. King,” she straightened up and flashed them a nervous smile as Cassius gave her an acknowledging nod.“Rafeal told me about you guys too,” Milena added.The Ward's door slid open, and Zade walked in as well, standing beside her. Milena flashed him a glare as if asking, *Why didn't you tell me they were here?*Zade gave her a replying look too. *You didn't give me a chance; how am I supposed to do that?*Milena sighed defeatedly, knowing he was right. Tatiana offered the empty
Milena snapped awake with a gasp, her eyes meeting an unfamiliar room. She was surrounded by white walls—too bright, too sterile. The ceiling spun above her for a moment before everything began to settle.Her heart pounded in her chest as she pushed herself up, the hospital sheets sliding off her trembling body. Her hands instinctively clutched the fabric at her chest, panic crawling up her throat as her eyes darted around the place.“Rafeal…”Her voice came out as a whisper, hoarse and broken.Memories surged in—his limp body in her arms, the flatline sound, the doctors shouting.She swung her legs off the bed, nearly collapsing from the dizziness that hit her. But she didn’t care. Her feet touched the cold floor, and she forced herself up, dragging her weak body to the door.She yanked it open.A nurse turned at the sound, startled. “Ma’am, please—you need to lie down, you’re not—”“Where is he?” Milena demanded, voice trembling but full of desperation. “Where is Rafeal?”"Ma’am, yo
While Milena cradled Rafael's unconscious body, Angie ran to Rosa's side and saw the scene. Just like Rosa, her body froze in place, but she quickly recovered, pulling out an injection from her gear and running towards them.She shoved it onto Rafael's lap and injected him, then checked on his state."He is not breathing," Milena sobbed, her whole body trembling. "Rafael is not breathing!"Angie immediately lifted him despite the exhaustion from searching for the antidote clouding her senses. She carried him out, and Milena struggled to follow.She was drained, her bones threatening to give up, darkness slipping into her mind, and she almost fell, but Rosa caught her.Zade appeared too, shocked at the scene. He was covered in blood and sweat; it seemed they had been fighting off the men outside.He rushed to help Milena, taking her from Rosa and leading her out.However, Rosa paused and glanced at unconscious Leonard, her eyes dangerously cold as deadly intent rose within them.Angie
Milena watched them clash like two storms colliding.No hesitation. No holding back.Rafael was a blur—faster than Leonard remembered. Every strike was brutal, precise, like he’d been waiting for this fight his entire life.Their fists met, their bones cracked, and their snarls echoed like monsters in a cage.Both were skilled; no one would know who was stronger among the brothers.Leonard went for Rafael’s throat with a wild hook, but Rafael ducked and slammed his elbow into Leonard’s ribs, sending him staggering back and coughing blood.Leonard smirked, wiping the blood off his face with the back of his hand. “That all you’ve got, little brother?”Rafael didn’t answer. He spun low and swept Leonard’s legs, sending him crashing to the floor. Rafael pounced, fists flying, hammering into Leonard’s jaw over and over.Blood splattered across the floor, warm and slick. Leonard twisted, caught Rafael’s arm, and flipped him—hard.Rafael slammed onto his back with a groan but rolled to his f
Oxford’s fingers flew over his keyboard, trying to find a way to connect with his allies. He needed someone to back him up.Gunshots echoed everywhere. It was no longer just one man with a sniper—more had come to attack them.He already sensed that Leonard and his men were cornered. But no matter how many times Oxford tried, he couldn’t get through.He had another method of connecting with his allies and requesting help, but access kept being denied. Were his allies under attack too?Each time he tried to reach them, someone—or something—kept blocking him out. A hacker? Fuck. He wasn’t that good at this stuff.“Where’s Zinnia?!” Oxford barked at X. Zinnia was the head of hacking.“She—” That was the only word X could manage before the van door swung open—no, it was ripped open.Before X could react, a dire wolf pounced on him. X shot aimlessly, hitting even the equipment in the van, as the wolf tore off his arm.Oxford cursed under his breath, watching X fight for his life. A large fi
Oxford’s van arrived at the port first. The ship was ready, and his men had already begun unloading the illegal drugs, weapons, and poison into it.He knew staying in a country dominated by Silence was a deadly risk, but he had to come. After all, one can't defeat an enemy without getting a little close.More importantly, there was his little daughter—she might have something that could help him bring Silence down. Once he got what he wanted from her, he would kill her… and if she insisted on keeping quiet, she would be tortured until death.Oxford snickered as he took a drag from his cigarette. Who would’ve thought he’d manage to break into the territory of the most dangerous man in the mafia world?And even kill one of his best men…Ha! Silence is getting old, after all. It was bound to happen. No one stays king forever.If it hadn’t been for Silence, he and Maximus would have had the entire world beneath their feet.“Rest well, brother,” Oxford muttered. That was one of the reasons